My Top 5 Lessons Learned As A Freelance Writer - By Amechi Okoli

Freelance writing has become one of the most popular, and in some cases, profitable stay-at-home jobs in Nigeria today.

I was excited to witness writing become a real business in Nigeria, as I have always had a passion for it since I was a kid.

From writing poems and essays in secondary school, to being the head writer at the since defunct Raindrops Magazine (University Of Port Harcourt's very first campus publication), to having my articles published on blogs as big as Pulse NG, NotjustOK, and 360 Nobs.

Even while I was working at Lagos Jump Radio, I was still writing. And somehow someway, clients started reaching out to me, and I started getting paid for my articles.

And that’s how I dabbled into the world of freelance writing!

It has been a memorable experience, and I’d like to share with you, 5 valuable lessons I have learned from all my years as a freelance writer.

1. Writing can make you a millionaire

Sometime in 2021, I wrote a short article about Ja Rule and Fat Joe’s Verzuz battle, and posted it on my Facebook and Instagram pages.

And by the time I woke up the next morning, Verzuz TV (which was founded by the legendary producers Timbaland and Swizz Beatz), had posted both my article and handle on their Instagram Stories!

Verzuz TV's action caused a spike in my post, as it was packed with likes and comments (mainly from black Americans who were hip hop fans).

My short blog post had reached over 10,000 people, one of whom was an ex-marine, who later sent me a DM and asked that I helped him write a book about his experiences in the US – Afghanistan war.

Thousands of Dollars paid into my account, and just like that, a short article about Ja Rule and Fat Joe’s Verzuz battle which I wrote and posted on my page had triggered a reader to hire me for a job that paid me millions of Naira!

This was a big deal at the time, when most clients were paying between N2 to N3 per word!

That made it clear to me that, indeed, it was possible to make millions from one writing contract. Even in Nigeria.

2. You shouldn’t take every job

As a freelance writer, I’m sure you’ve set some standards regarding how much your minimum pay should be. However, you may find yourself in a tight financial situation where you would be tempted to take jobs that pay you far less than what you normally charge.

That wouldn’t be such a crisis if the particular task was an easy one. But it could be an emotional hellfire for you if that low-paying job is a tedious one, and your client is a total a**hole!

I’ve been in this situation a few times, and I regretted them all. I couldn’t deliver my best, as I couldn’t put my heart into the tasks, mainly because of the low fees and the uninteresting topics.

This is not to say I haven’t happily done jobs that paid very low. I have many times, as long as I enjoy the topics, then I’d gladly write it for peanuts.

But if you’re not inspired by the task, and the pay is as low as Messi's center of gravity, then DO NOT TAKE THE JOB!

Yes, I know, ignoring money when you’re flat broke is hard. But it’s better than taking the job, grumbling later, delivering below expectation, and quarrelling with your client afterwards!

3. You should determine your price, not your client

I always find it funny when I give a client my charge, and they say something like “No, I’ve been paying all my writers Bleep amount, and that is the amount I will pay you”.

Like, how?

You came to me with a task, and it’s only right that I give you my bill. Of course, we can negotiate the charges, but imposing an amount on me won’t fly.

And if the two of you can’t come to terms, then let it go. Sooner than later, you’ll secure a client that will pay your talent's worth.

In my early days of freelancing, I used to accept whatever I was offered, and that made me work harder, for longer, for less!

Very unrewarding!

4. Never agree to a pay-after-service policy

Distrust can go both ways, as many clients are weary of writers, and how they may abscond with their monies if they pay upfront. Writers too are afraid that their clients will disappear after submitting a task.

This has happened to me on more occasions than I’d like to remember. The most painful was being blocked by my client after I had submitted a 5,000 word project without collecting a dime!

Since my last experience, I made up my mind to always collect an upfront for any job. If possible, a 100% payment.

You might be scared that a pay-before-service policy will chase away your clients. Well, it may chase some, but the ones who are serious about their projects will agree to it.

Which brings me to the 5th and final lesson I learned from freelance writing.

5. Good writings are more valuable than the money being offered for them

How long will N2 or N3 or N4 or N5 per word last? Not long.

But how long will that book, YouTube script, or article last for your client? Probably forever!

What about well-written sales copies that can help a business gain thousands of paying clients, or statements of purpose that can help an aspiring M.Sc. student be accepted into a foreign university?

Are all these not worth far more than the amount of money your clients are paying for them?

This is not to say you should charge Heaven and Earth for your services, but make sure you charge an amount that you believe is fair reward for your work.

Besides the fact that your writings can help drive your client’s ambitions forward, have you considered the health implications of staring at a computer screen for too long?

Is the money you’re being paid enough for you to go and see an eye doctor, or take care of your eyes in general?

Once you realize that what you’re offering your client is greater in value than the amount they are paying you, then all the pay-after-service and N2 per word talk will end!

Final Thoughts

Writing is a serious business that can help one live an above-average life, here in Nigeria. It can even make you rich, depending on the quality of your work, and the quality of clients you work for.

There are many lessons to be learned from our experiences as writers (both good and bad). As long as we use the lessons to better our craft, and deliver top-notch services to our clients, then the only way we can go is up.

Thanks for reading!

My name is Amechi, a freelance writer with a lifetime of writing experience. I won’t say I’m the best at what I do, but I am yet to find a Nigerian writer who’s better (pardon the cockiness).

Want to reach me? Then give me a buzz on WhatsApp +2348033422206.

Let’s vibe!

Hit me up if you want my experience to work for you 08033422206.

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Hit me up if you want my experience to work for you 08033422206.

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amechispeaks:
Hit me up if you want my experience to work for you 08033422206.

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Top 5 Lessons

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